The document discusses emergency stop buttons, which are critical safety devices used to immediately halt dangerous machinery functions in an emergency. It emphasizes that emergency stop buttons must be clearly labeled, visible, and accessible to allow for quick shutdown of all machine processes. Workers are responsible for regularly checking that emergency stop buttons on their equipment are functioning properly to stop equipment and prevent injuries or fatalities.

1. Emergency Stop Button – A Life Saver!
Safety Moment of the Week
January 1st – 7th, 2017
It is your responsibility to make
sure that your Emergency Stop
Button (Kill Switch) works properly.
Make sure it stops the whole
process (i.e. machine and feed
tables).
The little amount of time you take to
check to see if it is working could
save you from a severe injury or even
death.
The purpose of an Emergency Stop
button is to stop the process as
quickly as possible without additional
risks.
It is a back-up to other safeguarding
measures and not a substitute for
them.
Your E-Stop button is intended for use
in emergency situations to try to limit
or avert harm to someone or
something.
The Emergency Stop Button must be
must be clearly identifiable, clearly
visible, and quickly accessible.
Use the Emergency Stop Button
when:
 Performing Set-ups
 Performing Cleaning or
Housekeeping on your equipment
 Performing Simple Maintenance
(not requiring Zero Energy)
 Clearing Jams or Blockages
 Stopping the machine in case of
an emergency
Check Your Equipment –
• Does your equipment have an
Emergency Stop Button?
• Is it easily accessible if there is
an emergency?
• Does it shut down ALL the
functions of your equipment?
• Is it clearly labelled?
If you answered no to any of
these questions, report it to your
Supervisor, Manager or Safety
department immediately!
Ask yourself, does your equipment
need additional Emergency Stop
Buttons? If so, report it!

2. Safety Moment of the Week
January 1st
– 7th
, 2016
Emergency Stop Button – A Life Saver!
Emergency stop devices provide workers a means of stopping a device during an emergency by
pushing a button or pulling a rope in order to prevent injury to personnel and material loss.
An emergency stop button is a button that is used only when the functions of a machine need to be
halted immediately. These buttons can be pressed when anything regarding the machine's functions
or the operator's surroundings pose a threat to production or safety. They put an end to a machine's
current functions, so other machines related to the stopped one might also have to modified when the
button is pressed.
As a safety measure, emergency stop buttons are a critical part of potentially dangerous machines
that contain electrical circuits. They can be found on gas pumps, saws, mills, cutting devices, and
other moving machinery used for industrial purposes, such as conveyor belts. The more complex the
machine, the more likely that it will have an emergency stop button. These buttons typically work by
cutting off power to the circuit that provides electricity to the machine.
The button is wired into the machine's main and normal circuitry. Once it is pressed, it breaks and
opens the circuitry, which, in turn, cuts off the electrical supply and shuts down the machine. The
electrical power supply is interrupted and causes the machine to halt its functions immediately.
A standard stop button shouldn't be confused with an emergency one. Stop buttons are usually
located next to start buttons and are generally of comparable size to the start button. An emergency
button is usually much larger and more obvious, and it's often red. It can be made of metal or plastic
and can also come in different forms to suit a particular machine. For example, they can vary in
position and release styles; some can require key, push-pull or twist releases. Depending on the size
of machine, multiple emergency stop buttons could be found on a single machine.